René Mesangeau

Who was René Mesangeau?

René Mésangeau was a French composer and lutenist. He is considered to be one of the finest lutenists of the 17th century.

In 1619, he settled in France and married the daughter of the spinet maker Jean Jacquet. In 1621, he was appointed musicien ordinaire du Roi at the French court by Louis XIII. It is known that during his life, he visited Germany and England. He died around January 1638 in Paris.

His output consists of about fifty works, including his own works and transcriptions, which were influential in the development of lute music after 1630. He is an author of the new D minor lute tuning that was important for the style brisé. His achievements brought him recognition by Pierre Ballard and by Marin Mersenne in his Harmonie Universelle.

His pupil, Ennemond Gaultier, composed the first known tombeau for him.